Start here · the first lesson of Adjectives, adverbs, comparison
Adjectives, adverbs, comparison
Grammar: Voice, Narration, Tenses + Rule Bank · for IPMAT Indore, IPMAT Rohtak and JIPMAT
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The idea
Adjectives describe nouns; adverbs describe verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. Exams test two areas: comparison (comparative vs superlative, "any other", like-with-like, double comparatives, "as… as", elder/older) and choosing the right word class (adjective vs adverb, -ed vs -ing, too vs very). Indore 2019 Q28 (Which team has the better record, yours or theirs?) and 2024 Q32 (Hitchcock's thrillers vs those of any other filmmaker) are comparison items.
Textbook vs exam method
Textbook method
Comparison (comparative-two-superlative-three, double-comparative, comparison-any-other, comparison-like-with-like, comparison-as-as, elder-older)
| Rule | Right | Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Comparative for two, superlative for three or more | Of the two teams, yours is the better. | …yours is the best. |
| One marker only; no "more" with absolute adjectives | better, the easiest; unique, perfect, preferable | more better, most easiest, more unique |
| Member of its own group → any other | taller than any other boy in the class | taller than any boy in the class |
| Like with like | Her salary is higher than that of her manager. | …higher than her manager. |
| "as… as" needs both words; a double comparison needs both linkers | as good as, if not better than, her coach | as good, if not better than, her coach |
| elder/eldest only for family, never + than | Ravi is older than his cousin; my elder brother. | Ravi is elder than his cousin. |
Word class (adjective-vs-adverb, ed-ing-adjective, too-very)
| Rule | Right | Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb with an action verb; adjective after a linking verb | She sings beautifully; the soup tastes good. | She sings beautiful. |
| -ing = cause, -ed = the person who feels | a boring lecture; bored students | The students were boring by the lecture. |
| too = more than wanted (negative result); very = plain degree | I am very happy to see you; too tired to walk | I am too happy to see you. |
Exam method
- "Than" or "-est" in the sentence?. Count the things compared (two → -er) and check for a double marker.
- Ask "what is compared with what?". Salary with salary, thrillers with thrillers (that of / those of).
- Member of its own group?. Add "other".
- "As" comparison?. Both "as" words, and "than" after the second comparative.
- Word after the verb. action verb → -ly; linking verb → adjective.